the summer of molly

After the stress of last summer stemming from unemployment and wedding planning, I vowed to make this summer as fun and relaxing as possible: the Summer of Molly, if you will. (Because everything in my life is a Seinfeld reference.)

Although Kyle and I both work full time during the week, we've managed to squeeze in some weekend adventures.

We've gone to the beach.



Overlooking Lake Michigan at the Grand Haven City Beach.


We've gone to Whitecaps games.

Grand Rapids Whitecaps vs. South Bend Silver Hawks
Quenching my baseball thirst until I can get my hands on some Cubs tickets.



And we've eaten copious amounts of frozen yogurt.



I think I might have a problem.



Thus far, I deem this summer a success.

What have you been up to this summer?

in defense of curls

I was reading this article about curly-haired celebrities the other day, and it got me thinking about my own curls.

(source)
Fellow curly girl, Elaine Benes.
Because everything in my life can be related back to Seinfeld.

When I was a kid, my hair was mostly straight. Then one day when I was middle school, I woke up and my hair was curly.

Seriously.

Since then, I've been in a love/hate relationship with my curls. For most of my adolescence, my solution was to wear it pulled back in a pony tail. (Or under a Cubs hat. Yay hat hair!) By the time I got to college, I had begrudgingly embraced my frizzy hair. Although, once I was even told by an academic advisor that I needed to straighten my hair for interviews if I ever wanted to get a job. Um, what!?!

I just don't understand who decided that straight hair was synonymous with attractiveness and professionalism. What's wrong with just accepting, dare I say loving, yourself just the way you are? Why is it that women are expected to straighten their hair, put on makeup, and dress a certain way in order to be taken seriously? I'm not saying that doing any of those things is at all wrong, I just don't understand why they have come to be viewed as necessary.

I'm finally able to say that I love my crazy hair. (Now I just need to work on embracing my natural hair color. What can I say? I'm a redhead at heart.)

Are there any other curly girls out there? Has anyone ever been told to change their appearance for some reason?

bees (again)

Last night I went to a beekeeping workshop at Tree Huggers, a sustainable shop in my neighborhood.

It was seriously wonderful, and so informative. The workshop was taught by two friends, who are both teachers and hobby beekeepers. Their passion for beekeeping and sustainability, as well as their love for bees is truly inspiring. (Especially to this aspiring bee girl.)

We learned what you need to get your hives started, and how to maintain them once they are established (and growing!). I learned quite a bit about the construction and layout of the "bee boxes," which I wasn't really familiar with. The only downside was that they couldn't bring any actual bees with them. (Once a hive has been established, moving it is essentially impossible.)

Truly, this workshop only fueled my desire to have my own bees.



Geeking out after the workshop explaining my handouts to Kyle.



I realize my bee lust may seem a little odd. What began as a love for raw honey quickly turned into an obsession with the ones who make it. The more I've read and researched about bees, the more I want to know. They're fascinating (and unfortunately often misunderstood) creatures. I'm mesmorized by them. Standing near hives with bees buzzing around me is such a relaxing, almost spiritual experience.

While it may not be in the cards for me right at this moment, urban beekeeping is something I one day hope to do. With any kind of beekeeping, urban or otherwise, it is so important to have a mentor. Books will only take you so far. First hand knowledge from an experienced beekeeper is invaluable. By attending workshops and visiting apiaries, I'm trying to make connections for down the road.

For now, I'm going to look into planting a small window garden with flowers that attract bees. I learned last night that they especially love lavender. Although I cannot have my own hive right now, I can do my part to facilitate a healthy bee population in my area.

Thanks for reading this little reflection. I feel like I mention bees quite a bit, and I just wanted to be clear as to why. (And I can guarantee this won't be the last bee-related post I'll write!) As always, I'm so grateful to have this outlet to write about my odd little obsessions.

If you know any beekeepers, send them my way!

fro yo, yo

Ohmygod, I just discovered frozen yogurt and I am in love.

Spoonlickers is a new frozen yogurt shop that opened up in Ada a few weeks ago. This is the first of its kind in the area (that I'm aware of), and I am so glad that we have a quality fro yo place around. It's only about a 15 minute drive from downtown GR (worth it), but I believe they're planning on opening more locations soon. (PLEASE come downtown!)

Thanks to the blogging world, I knew places like Pinkberry were popular in other parts of the country, but there wasn't anything remotely resembling that near GR. And let me tell you, I was jealous. I'm so grateful we have a local fro yo option just in time for summer. Kyle and I seriously make a trip out to Spoonlickers every weekend. It's dangerous. Maybe a location closer to our neighborhood wouldn't be a good idea...

If you're local, I highly recommend a trip out to Spoonlickers. You won't regret it. (And if you're lucky, you'll go on a day when they have their Nutella flavor.)

Happy licking!

sometimes, money can buy happiness

And by "happiness," I mean Springsteen tickets.

Oh, and did I mention he's playing at Wrigley Field in Chicago, home of the beloved Cubs?

Come September 7th, I will seriously be in heaven. I. Can't. Wait.


Thanks to my mom for taking and sending me this picture. Isn't it great? 

i don't mean to alarm you...

...but I'm fairly certain that I hold irrefutable evidence for the existence of extraterrestrials. 

Esch Road
Empire, MI

Ok, maybe not irrefutable per sae, but someone please explain to me how else that UFO shaped patch ended up in this field. You know you want to believe.

Either way, I know that someone's on my side.



It's good to be a nerd.

(Source)
(Via)



girl's night

Photo courtesy of Morgan's Instagram

Morgan said it best: "Sushi, ice cream, and alien encounters. Just an average girl's night with my BFF."

I deem Tuesday night a success.

up north redux

I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves. 


+ Friday: Bees

+ Saturday: Beach

Ok, so this was after the beach at the
Asparagus Festival in Empire, MI.
It was about as exciting as it sounds,
but those asparagus crapes were amazing.

+Sunday: Sweet, sweet nothing

There are very few things in life I love more than Lake Michigan and sunshine up north. This is truly where I am my happiest. 

Where is your happy place?